Is your lawn looking a little worse for wear, and are you not sure what steps you need to take to save it? Whether your lawn looks unhealthy, has a few too many weeds, or needs a pick-me-up, we’ll show you what you need to do to save your lawn this spring.
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- Is It Too Early to Treat Weeds?
- Should I Aerate My Lawn?
- When Should I Apply a Fertiliser?
- How Often Do I Need to Mow?
- When Will My Lawn Recover?
Is It Too Early to Treat Weeds?
If any weeds have made their way through your lawn over winter, now is the best time to remove them to help prevent their spread. Some common types of lawn weeds that you can encounter in spring include Clover, Cudweed, and Creeping Oxalis. Winter Grass may also be present if temperatures haven’t warmed back up in your region yet.
For removing common broadleaf weeds that may have crept in, we recommend using a broadleaf herbicide or weed killer. An easy-to-use hose-on broadleaf herbicide is All Purpose Weed Control. However, if you prefer to apply through a knapsack or pressure sprayer, a concentrate product like Estate Herbicide is a good weed killer to use.
If you are unsure what type of weeds are growing in your garden and want the best way to remove them, please check out our Ultimate Weed Guide blog.
If you are looking for a way to help prevent further seasonal weeds from growing in your lawn, we recommend looking into using a pre-emergent herbicide like Oxafert or Barricade. This type of herbicide works by creating a barrier at the soil level. This barrier stops weed seedlings during germination, before they have a chance to grow.
Should I Aerate My Lawn in Spring?
When soil becomes hard or compacted, it can become difficult for air, water and nutrients to move within the soil. When compaction is present, your lawn may experience drainage issues, become thin and patchy, face increased weed pressure, and develop a shallow root system.
If you are unsure if your soil is compacted, we recommend doing a soil compaction test. To do this, get a screwdriver and push it into your lawn. If the screwdriver is difficult to push into the soil, you may need to look at aeration.
To aerate your soil, we recommend using a garden fork or a core aerator. Drive the fork into the soil profile, give it a good wiggle to help fracture the surrounding soil. Repeat this process across your lawn.
When Should I Apply a Fertiliser in Spring?
Lawns thrive when they are fed. The best way to help give your lawn a boost in nutrients and growth in spring is to apply a well-rounded granular fertiliser. Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser provides the broad range of nutrients your lawn needs.
When applying fertiliser to your lawn in spring, it is best to hold off application until temperatures have warmed up, and your turf has started to grow a bit. This way, your lawn can use the nutrients more effectively.
How Often Do I Need to Mow?
Regular mowing is one of the best ways to keep your lawn thick and healthy. Mowing regularly reduces plant stress caused by removing too much leaf. You will also encourage consistent growth, which will help your grass thicken and improve its overall appearance.
However, the exact number of times you need to mow your lawn depends on your lawn and environment! As a general guide, we recommend mowing frequently enough that you remove only one third of the leaf with each pass.
When Will My Lawn Recover?
How quickly your lawn recovers depends on the damage and the type of turf you have. While varieties like Kikuyu and Couch bounce back quickly, Zoysia and Buffalo grass might take a bit longer.
If your lawn needs a little extra TLC to get it back on track and you’re not sure how to save your lawn, get in contact with the Lawn Solutions team or contact your nearest Lawn Solutions member. They can be found on the website here.
